Santa greets 4,000 children with special needs at Operation Santa Claus event

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Christmas came about three weeks early at John F. Kennedy Airport for thousands of kids.

A hangar at Delta's terminal transformed into the "North Pole" on Dec. 7 for the annual Operation Santa Claus event, which allowed children with special needs to experience the magic of Christmas — and spend time with St. Nick himself.

Three hundred school buses pulled into the airport for the event, which is put on by Community Mayors, a nonprofit organization that works to create opportunities for mentally and physically challenged children.

"Some of these kids can hardly even smile, but to see their eyes all lit up like a Christmas tree, it just gives you goose bumps," Shelley Della Rocca, chief community mayor of the organization, told TODAY.

Just by looking at the children's faces and hearing the place erupt with excitement, you knew Santa was about to make his grand entrance on an airplane, bearing presents for all.

The kids were excited to see Santa.Courtesy of Alexandra Zaslow

"Weeks before we came here, my students kept asking, 'When are we going to see Santa?'" Melissa Benzel, a teacher at P255Q in Queens, told TODAY. "When they saw Santa come in, they started asking, 'Santa comes in on airplanes? Is that how he gives out presents?'"

Ho, ho, ho! Santa greets the children from above.Courtesy of Alexandra Zaslow

Most of these kids spend all year looking forward to this event, not just because they get a day off from school, but because they get to see their dream of meeting Santa come to life.

A few of the kids who attended Operation Santa Claus.Courtesy of Alexandra Zaslow

"A lot of kids in wheelchairs are confined and can't go to their malls, so we try to bring them a little joy," Buddy Ducalo, Community Mayors volunteer, told TODAY.

After Santa got off the plane, he hopped on a train with Mrs. Claus and some jolly elves and rode it around to greet a hangar filled with ecstatic children and their teachers.

Santa rode on a train as he spread cheer.Courtesy of Alexandra Zaslow

"I just like seeing them happy," Ms. Benzel said. "Every day in the classroom is a routine, so anytime we get to do something exciting, especially kids with autism that don't necessarily get to experience all types of things, it's so fun for them."

Melissa Benzel with her students.Courtesy of Alexandra Zaslow

"Santa is happy to see us, happy to be here and to just talk to the kids," Latrell Ligon, fifth-grader at PS116 in Manhattan, told TODAY. "I like to shake his hand."

Community Mayors has inspired organizations in states all over the country to follow suit and host their own Operation Santa Claus celebrations.